CHENG BENG AT SAM POH CAVES

 A couple of weeks ago, I went for Cheng Beng at Gopeng with my cousin Thim Fook and nephew Ivan.  This morning I went with my sister Li Mei to pay respects to our maternal grandparents and paternal aunt whose ashes are interned there.

My mum and aunt did not go along with us.  This was because my mum became very ill after she went for Cheng Beng at the Caves a couple of years ago.  It was really bad and we later found out that she had unsuspectingly got the attention of a violent spirit who followed her home and made her very sick.  Well, this place has since become off limits to them.  So my sister volunteered to help me out when I went this year. 

She had gone to Kuala Lumpur with her husband to visit her two sons who are studying there and rushed back this morning to go with me to pray to the ancestors.

 My mum told me to pray to the Deity of the Earth located at the back of the place first before offering prayers to my grandparents and aunt.  This deity is somewhat like the officer guarding the place and we need his help to let our ancestors know that his descendants have come to pay respects.

Since today is the 5th last day for Cheng Beng, there were not that many people.  Cheng Beng ends on the 14th of April for this year.  If not the place would be filled with people.

 As I was not sure if my sister would make it back in time to go with me for Cheng Beng, I only bought the minimal amount of offerings to bring along. 

 

 Here is the offering by another family for their dearly departed.  Note that at the Sam Poh Caves one can only bring offerings of vegetarian food.

 Nevertheless, my mum and aunts prepared paper paraphernalia for us to bring along to burn for our ancestors.

 Here Li Mei is making sure that all the paper offerings get burnt.  She is using a metal rod to get the job done.

 We were told that the paper offering needs to be thoroughly burnt so that our ancestors can receive them properly at the netherworld.   Hmm ...  if they receive it at all.

Okay.  Finished my duty of paying respects to my Kong Kong, Ah Mah and Ku Ma for 2011.  I will be back again in 2012 to carry out my filial task.
Tomorrow, I need to go pay respects to my dad at the Paradise Memorial Park.